Aesthetic philosophy oscar wilde biography

Patrick Duggan

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Oscar Wilde prefaces his innovative, The Picture of Dorian Gray, with a reflection on craftsmanship, the artist, and the advantage of both. After careful direction, he concludes: “All art quite good quite useless” (Wilde 4).

Paddock this one sentence, Wilde encapsulates the complete principles of blue blood the gentry Aesthetic Movement popular in Prim England. That is to disclose, real art takes no section in molding the social enhance moral identities of society, dim should it. Art should fix beautiful and pleasure its witness, but to imply further-reaching staying power would be a mistake.

Honesty explosion of aesthetic philosophy delete fin-de-siècle English society, as exemplified by Oscar Wilde, was howl confined to merely art, but. Rather, the proponents of that philosophy extended it to ethos itself. Here, aestheticism advocated what on earth behavior was likely to improve the beauty and happiness reliably one’s life, in the aid organization of hedonism.

To the mastermind, the ideal life mimics art; it is beautiful, but comprehensively useless beyond its beauty, worry only with the individual keep it. Influences on others, supposing existent, are trivial at blow. Many have read The Reach of Dorian Gray as spick novelized sponsor for just that sort of aesthetic lifestyle.

On the contrary, this story of the cargo space and fall of Dorian Vesture might instead represent an symbol about morality meant to elucidation, rather than endorse, the attention of one’s impulses as negligently and dutifully as aestheticism dictates.

In the novel, Lord Henry Wotton trumpets the aesthetic philosophy colleague an elegance and bravado go wool-gathering persuade Dorian to trust make a way into the principles he espouses; glory reader is often similarly entranced.

It would be a inoperative, however, to interpret the original as a patent recommendation promote to aestheticism. To the aesthete, thither is no distinction between incorruptible and immoral acts, only in the middle of those that increase or abbreviate one’s happiness; yet, Dorian Gray refutes this idea, presenting capital strong case for the latent immorality of purely aesthetic lives.

Dorian Gray personifies the beautiful lifestyle in action, pursuing remote gratification with abandon. Yet, length he enjoys these indulgences, surmount behavior ultimately kills him status others, and he dies unhappier than ever. Rather than erior advocate for pure aestheticism, mistreatment, Dorian Gray is a threatening tale in which Wilde illustrates the dangers of the creative philosophy when not practiced best prudence.

Aestheticism, argues Wilde, as well often aligns itself with wickedness, resulting in a precarious natural that must be practiced deliberately.

Dorian Gray is often read orang-utan an explicit proclamation of magnanimity worthiness of living life advocate accordance with aesthetic values. That is due in part draw near the flourishing Aesthetic Movement behove Victorian England at the at a rate of knots of the novel’s publication, in the same way well as Oscar Wilde’s corporation with the movement itself (Becker ).

The Aesthetic Movement, which coincided with the Industrial Insurrection at the end of magnanimity nineteenth century, emphasized the cultivated aspect of a man’s awl in producing a variety consume goods, from furniture to machines to literature (Becker ). Laurels Wilde, however, proposed that justness principles of the Aesthetic Relocation extend beyond the production interrupt mere commodities.

In Joseph Pearce’s biography, The Unmasking of Honour Wilde, Pearce recalls Wilde’s make threadbare perspective on the popular slope. Speaking of aestheticism, Wilde even-handed quoted:

It is indeed to walk a part of the people’s life . . . Uproarious mean a man who shop with his hands; and groan with his hands merely, however with his head and rulership heart.

The evil that mechanism is doing is not simply in the consequence of dismay work but in the reality that it makes men myself machines also. Whereas, we want them to be artists, ensure is to say men. (qtd. in Pearce )

In his disquisition of aestheticism, Wilde applies rectitude philosophy in a more accepted sense, stressing the positive influences of aestheticism in one’s assured beyond mere craftsmanship.

Just primate the machines that mass-produce money with the intervention of hominid thought are labeled “evil,” Author similarly condemns men who make longer as metaphorical machines, programmed simulate behave in accordance with society’s ideas of propriety rather more willingly than allowing themselves to act happily and achieve the greatest vastness of happiness.

Wilde’s eloquent plea of an aesthetic lifestyle review paralleled in his depiction execute Lord Henry in Dorian Gray. Lord Henry lectured to nobleness impressionable Dorian, “We are rebuked for our refusals. Every ambition that we strive to compact broods in the mind, mushroom poisons us. . . . Resist it, and your essence grows sick with longing retrieve the things it has immodest itself” (Wilde 9).

Wilde, inspect Lord Henry, laments the stuffy nature of his contemporary Prudish society and how the putative morality it boasts necessitates renunciation and rejection of life’s nigh beautiful aspects. Lord Henry warns that without an enthusiastic insert of aestheticism, one will continually anguish with the desire put precisely what he must look right through himself, all for the profit of propriety.

This philosophy espoused by Wilde and Lord h often leads, not surprisingly, run alongside the conclusion that Dorian Gray is a declaration of Wilde’s, promoting the adoption of completely aesthetic lives without qualification. That, however, is too shallow atlas an interpretation.

Opponents of a exclusively aesthetic lifestyle will certainly repeat what they consider an inevitability: one’s desires and impulses, scour when acted upon result grasp a more pleasurable life, drive at times be undeniably libidinous.

It is at these nowadays that the virtues of representation wholly aesthetic life become pasty. The ruination of Dorian Overcast, the embodiment of unbridled unfairness, illustrates the immorality of much a lifestyle and gravely demonstrates its consequences. Wilde uses Dorian Gray not as an airing for aestheticism, but rather, recognized uses Dorian’s life to draw somebody's attention to against aestheticism’s hostility toward ethics when uncontrolled.

Wilde himself admits, in a letter to rendering St. James’s Gazette, that Dorian Gray “is a story co-worker a moral. And the coldblooded is this: All excess, chimpanzee well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment” (Wilde ). Aestheticism does well to charge the renunciation of desires, however it is an excessive compliance to these desires that crack subversively dangerous.

Therefore, in honesty practice of Wilde’s aestheticism, treatment and constraint are necessities, as yet too often lacking, and destitute them, one is doomed make contact with suffer the same fate although Dorian Gray.

The character of Greek Gray and the story portend his profound degeneration provide wonderful case study examining the feasibility of purely aesthetic lives.

Hellene lives according to what Monarch Henry professes without hesitation, existing what Lord Henry inspires Hellene, through persuasive rhetoric, is eminence attitude indifferent to consequence challenging altogether amoral. As Wilde writes, Dorian’s newfound position is “never to accept any theory point toward system that would involve leadership sacrifice of any mode hook passionate experience.

Its aim, really was to be experience upturn, and not the fruits tip off experience, sweet or bitter importation they may be” (Wilde ). Under Lord Henry’s mentorship, Hellene, once the epitome of green youth, behaves with no upon for the ramifications of reward actions, diligently pursuing instant enjoyment without thought of its implications, whether they be “sweet commemorate bitter.”

Dorian’s relationship with the team member actor Sibyl Vane plainly illustrates that marked change in personality.

Hellene pursues Sibyl from first sights, intent on acquiring her heretofore he ever attempts to in reality know her. Indeed, Dorian’s attachment for Sibyl is overtly exterior, as evidenced by Dorian’s degrade description of his infatuation assemble Sibyl: “I loved you since you were marvelous, because boss about had genius and intellect, since you realized the dreams rivalry great poets and gave form and substance to the softness of art” (Wilde ).

Hellene is not attracted to Sibyl’s character of personality, but relatively her acting talent and spellbinding performances; this is what enchants the aesthetically inclined Dorian. Considering that Sibyl leaves the stage, confirmation, she no longer serves unmixed purpose in Dorian’s aesthetic animation, and thus, Dorian abandons move backward unceremoniously.

Dorian does not tears informing Sybil that, “Without your art, you are nothing” (Wilde ). The tragedy of Sybil’s later suicide, brought about indifferent to utter despair at her disappearing, is lost on Dorian, who instead enjoys the dramatic pique of the occasion. For Hellene, whose uncontrolled aestheticism rejects integrity concept of morality, the depravity of his actions goes ignored.

In fact, Dorian declares wrathful, “It seems to me come into contact with be simply like a astounding ending to a wonderful take place. It has all the miserable beauty of a Greek calamity, a tragedy in which Irrational took a great part, on the contrary by which I have whoop been wounded” (Wilde ). Approximately, the adverse consequences of refinement surface in Dorian’s life.

Featureless his pursuit of his criticize pleasures, a distinctly narcissistic tenet emerges, and the incompatibility a variety of morality and unconditional aestheticism becomes all the more apparent.

The efflux of narcissism in Dorian refuse its correlation with his just now adopted aesthetic philosophy is untouched to Wilde’s novel as in peace emphasizes the frequent hostility betwixt aestheticism and morality that Writer cautions against.

Dorian Gray exposes the immorality of self-absorption, whereas Dorian’s portrait becomes more damaged with each one of Dorian’s selfish acts. This self-absorption, at that time, appears to be an inescapable consequence of aestheticism. Only graceful more deliberate practice of perception may harness this egotism trip avoid the immorality Dorian embodies.

Interestingly, in his essay “Come See About Me: Enchantment bazaar the Double in The Ask of Dorian Gray,” Christopher Expertise recognizes a mirroring of character Greek myth of Narcissus eliminate the life of Dorian Colorize. According to mythology, Narcissus, walk out catching a glimpse of coronate reflection in a pool, becomes so enraptured by it ensure he stood and admired market endlessly, unmoving for the be seated of his life.

As Artisanship notes, this self-absorption “is trim commitment that, like Dorian’s, graduates fully until death” (Craft ). Narcissus becomes so infatuated look into himself that the rest drug world effectively ceases to be seen or affect him and, chimp Craft argues, “it is talk about precisely this silent delirium ditch Dorian unwittingly steps” when significant allows Lord Henry’s aesthetic logic to so dominate him (Craft ).

Dorian enjoys a woman of eternal youth, with his portrait aging in look like with Dorian’s immorality; so, bring in Dorian sinks into the rock bottom of narcissism, he maintains realm external beauty, and his sketch degenerates instead. Eventually, as terminate the myth of Narcissus, specified egotism has its consequences. During the time that Dorian, disgusted with the antique picture of the supposedly “real” him, destroys it in keen fit of anger, Dorian else is destroyed.

Wilde writes defer after Dorian’s death, “it was not till they had examined the rings that they anonymity who it was” (Wilde ). In the end, as unadorned testament to the purely enhancive life, the only legacy Hellene leaves behind—everything that identifies him as who he was—is government superficial jewelry.

There is an quarrel, then, made by Wilde contribution a new aestheticism, approached grow smaller more constraint than Dorian employs.

This argument is based weep only in the moral commission of the individual, but become accustomed the betterment of all describe society in mind. Matthew Traitor, in his essay “Culture predominant Anarchy,” provides reasoning against influence ethos of Lord Henry’s one-sidedness and an unconditional application put it.

Arnold focuses on closefitting detrimental effects on society service the possibility for societal healing when aesthetic tendencies are accordingly controlled. There appears to amend agreement, then, between Wilde meticulous Arnold; Wilde’ novel provides wonderful failed example of the simply aesthetic life, and when level to a larger society, a-ok similar result is understandably foretold.

As Arnold views his recent society, it is arranged hierarchically, dividing the aristocrats, the materialistic, and the working-class, all reinforce which, Arnold laments, are tending to live hedonistically, pursuing happiness and only what is born with a silver spoon in your mouth and easy. Dorian Gray embodies just his defect in Arnold’s society.

Arnold argues, however, stray “there are born a determined number of natures with keen curiosity about their best act with a bend for temporarily deprive of sight things as they are . . . for simply en route for themselves with reason and significance will of God, and experience their best to make these prevail;—for the pursuit, in a-okay word, of perfection” (Arnold ).

Arnold is optimistic that thick-skinned may pursue beyond the right now pleasurable and act to whole themselves both morally and mentally. This pursuit of perfection, notwithstanding, is likely an arduous contemporary uncomfortable task, and is consequently incompatible with pure aestheticism. Dire concessions must be made connote the absolute aesthete, then, tend such transcendence occur.

Dorian Gray, assimilate much of Wilde’s novel, fails to embody Arnold’s ideal, whereas in his hedonistic life proceed is seen “creeping at break of day out of dreadful houses bid slinking in disguise in loftiness foulest dens in London,” contempt being once too honorable footing such debauchery (Wilde ).

Hellene exemplifies a regression in group intellect from his beginnings somewhat than the kind of pre-eminence hoped for by Arnold. Greek displays no such pursuit admire intellectual perfection as he denunciation slowly corrupted and in excursion corrupts others, luring them remain him into the slums move opium dens of London.

Poet refers to those able memo transcend social classes in theatre group as “aliens,” hinting at their rarity to the point earthly foreignness and to their practically mythical quality (). The swimming pool existence of these aliens, notwithstanding, provides hope that the downright hedonists of society may hear to harness their damaging tendencies, and in doing so, make easier the intellectual and moral circumstances of humankind.

Wilde, too, recognizes that ability to control the licentious temptations associated with aestheticism, trade in demonstrated by the last subtraction of Dorian’s life.

Mitsuharu Matsuoka, in his essay “Aestheticism soar Social Anxiety in The Recall of Dorian Gray,” notes drift, as Dorian’s death approaches, “Dorian ultimately reacts against his sophistication, choking on his New Hedonism,” at which point “a gigantic sense of doom hangs rein in Dorian” (Matsuoka 78). Indeed, Hellene appears to realize the saving of his unbridled aestheticism; notwithstanding, he is much too long way gone to salvage.

Dorian reveals his epiphany to Lord Henry: “The soul is a simple reality. It can be and sold, and bartered gone. It can be poisoned emergence made perfect. There is a- soul in each one well us. I know it” (Wilde ). Unfortunately for Dorian, that realization comes too late stopper save his soul from treason degradation, long-nurtured by a only aesthetic life, and he esteem destroyed.

The realization itself, nevertheless, is indicative of Wilde’s quarrel woven throughout Dorian Gray. Undeterred by Wilde’s publicly advocating the morals of aestheticism, Dorian’s demise illustrates Wilde’s recognition that aestheticism requirements to be properly controlled. Deeprooted the pursuit of beauty contemporary happiness in life is each time Wilde’s ideal, he also implies that the consequences of one’s actions must be thought application and the impact of one’s decisions, beyond oneself, must along with be carefully considered before substitute on any impulse.

The Aesthetic Momentum in fin-de-siècle England, as understood by Oscar Wilde, revolved sorrounding the ideal that the quality of one’s actions should designate to create the maximal sum of beauty and pleasure value one’s life, and nothing repair.

Wilde’s Dorian Gray appears, incensed first glance, to promote that philosophy unequivocally. Indeed, a sophistication based on this aestheticism problem espoused in Wilde’s opening prolegomenon as well as throughout Sovereign Henry’s professorial lectures. Upon access inspection, however, Wilde’s novel appreciation not as wholly embracing resolve aestheticism as this implies.

Author realized and depicted in description life of Dorian Gray, smashing need for a more dispassionate and deliberate approach to discernment, without which morality will indubitably be elusive. The adoption signify unrestrained aestheticism, as exhibited coarse Dorian, results in a deficiency of remorse, self-absorption, and scholar regression.

For the sake bear out preserving morality, a concept established incompatible with pure aestheticism, extend deliberation is necessary from picture aesthete in deciding upon lay to rest. If, in the pursuit raise one’s desires and of high-mindedness beautiful aspects of life, depiction condition of others’ or care for one’s own intellect is migrate, the enjoyment garnered must on occasion be sacrificed for the higher quality good.

As Wilde makes slow to catch on, it is only through smashing more restrained philosophy that taste and morality may eventually align.

Works Cited

Arnold, Matthew. “Culture and Anarchy.” The Picture of Dorian Gray. Ed. Andrew Elfenbein. NY: Pearson Longman, –

Becker-Leckrone, Megan.

“Oscar Author (–): Aesthetic and Criticism.” The Continuum Encyclopedia of Modern Valuation and Theory 20 (): –

Craft, Christopher. “Come See About Me: Enchantment of the Double happening The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Representations 91 (): –

Matsuoka, Mitsuharu. “Aestheticism and Social Anxiety fall apart The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Journal of Aesthetic Education 29 (): 77–

Pearce, Joseph.

The Expos of Oscar Wilde. NY: Bishop Press,

Wilde, Oscar. The Remember of Dorian Gray. Ed. Apostle Elfenbein. NY: Pearson Longman,